CROW WING STATE FOREST 33,714 ACRES ESTABLISHED 1943, 1963, 1967 FOREST LANDSCAPE: Crow Wing State Forest is located on gently rolling hills in central Minnesota and covered with timber and wildlife habitat. With many large, clean lakes, it is a popular destination for camping, fishing, and swimming. A WORKING FOREST: From year to year, you may see changes in these forests. The DNR manages the trees, water, and wildlife in state forests to keep them healthy and meet recreational, environmental, and economic goals. Trees are harvested to make a variety of products, such as lumber and building materials, pulp for making paper, pallets, fencing, and utility poles. Through careful planning, harvesting, and planting, land managers work to improve wildlife habitat. The DNR manages state forests for everyone, while preventing wildfires and ensuring forests continue to keep air and water clean. HISTORY: Glaciers receding 10,000 years ago left behind the sediment and till that make up the landscape’s gently rolling hills and sandy soils. Large chunks of glacial ice melted in place, creating many of the large lakes in the area. Other parts of the forests drain into the Pine and Mississippi rivers. With sandy and gravelly soils, fire-dependent forests of jack and red pine were common. American Indian people lived here for many hundreds of years, tapping maple sap, harvesting wild rice, and burying their dead in huge mounds such as the Fort Flatmouth Mound Group. European fur traders entered the area in the early 1700s, with the Northwest Company dominating during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Crow Wing State Park, located northwest of the forest, includes the mouth of Crow Wing River where it empties into the Mississippi. This is the place where European Americans established a trading post with the Ojibwe in the 1800s. The Crow Wing State Forest area was heavily logged between 1880 and 1920. TREES: Sugar maple, basswood, paper birch, aspen, and northern red oak are widespread. Red and jack pine grow on sandier soils. Peatlands in the area feature black spruce bogs and rich swamp forests of white cedar and black ash. WILDLIFE: Wildlife includes white-tailed deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, woodcock, waterfowl, gray wolf, bobcat, beaver, fisher, snowshoe hare, otter, mink, muskrat, trumpeter swan, and eagle. PUT THIS MAP ON YOUR DEVICE Download this map on your mobile phone or tablet to track your current location. Visit mndnr.gov/geopdf for more information. The information in this map is dynamic and may change over time. The Minnesota DNR is not liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained. The data and related graphics are not legal documents, and are protected by copyright. • Unless posted closed, local forest roads are small game or waterfowl is not permitted. open to ATVs, OHVs, and OHMs. The Cross Lake Game Refuge encompasses • OHV trails are open as weather conditions private land. Please avoid trespassing. CROW WING allow. mndnr.gov/ohv/closures.html • ATVs, off-road vehicles (ORVs), and OHMs AQUATIC MANAGEMENT AREAS must be registered. Aquatic Management Areas (AMAs) mndnr.gov/licenses/ohv provide angler access, areas for education ! and outreach, and protect critical • Wildlife Management Areas are closed shoreland habitat. to OHVs. MAP AND GUIDE FISHING HUNTING AND TRAPPING Anglers may find muskellunge, northern State forests provide opportunities for pike, walleye, and panfish in area lakes and hunting and trapping. In the appropriate the Mississippi River. The Cross Lake area season, licensed hunters can hunt for big contains some natural lakes stocked with and small game. mndnr.gov/hunting trout. Some lakes may have special provisions FIREARMS AND BOWS or restrictions on fishing in state and national forests. You must have the proper license CAMPING AND DAY-USE AREAS TRAILS Firearms must be unloaded and cased and bows must be cased while in or within and abide by the same rules and seasons as Hiking is allowed on state forest trails GREER LAKE CAMPGROUND 200 feet of any recreation area (campground, anywhere else in Minnesota. This campground allows off-highway and roads. Off-trail hiking, skiing, and day-use area, parking area, boat launch, etc.). Avoid spreading invasive organisms, such as vehicle riders to directly enter and exit the snowshoeing are allowed in winter. zebra mussel larvae or spiny waterfleas, by campground. Located on the southeast shore • Cutting shooting lanes is not allowed on not transporting lake or river water, including of Greer Lake, visitors can enjoy 31 campsites, NORDIC RIDGE SKI TRAILS – any state land. in bait buckets. Pack out unused bait and live each with a fire ring and picnic table. There is CITY OF CROSSLAKE • Building permanent structures, including worms or dispose in trash containers where access to toilets, drinking water, a dock, and This 13.7-mile ski trail system winds through a deer stands, is prohibited. mixture of scattered, old pines and younger they can’t reach water or soil. a boat launch. No reservations needed. Fees • For regulations about hunting, trapping, aspen growth. The trails connect to other city Visit mndnr.gov/fishing for up-to-date collected on site. firearms, bows, limits, seasons, and deer of Crosslake snowshoe and hiking trails. regulations. WATER CAMPSITES AND stands on state-managed land, visit DISPERSED CAMPING PINE RIVER STATE WATER TRAIL mnndnr.gov/regulations/hunting MAP FOREST STATE River travelers may use three water access The Pine River winds through forests and NEARBY RECREATION WING CROW campsites for no fee on two state water trails traverses several lakes, including Norway Lake CUYUNA COUNTRY and the Whitefish chain of lakes. A number WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS along the Pine and Mississippi rivers. Water State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) STATE RECREATION AREA of dams along the river require portaging. campsites have a fire ring and picnic table. No are managed to perpetuate and establish Abandoned by iron mining companies in the reservations or fees charged. mndnr.gov/watertrails/pineriver quality wildlife habitat to produce a variety 1980s, this area of former mining pits and rock Dispersed camping with no amenities is MISSISSIPPI RIVER STATE WATER TRAIL of species, particularly harvestable species, deposit stockpiles now features regenerated allowed in state forests at least one mile A small portion of the Mississippi River State emphasizing wildlife that lives in wetlands vegetation and clear lakes. Boaters can outside of a designated campground. Summer Water Trail flows through the southern part of and young forests. They are also managed explore 25 miles of natural shoreline and GENERAL STATE FOREST RULES camping on state forest land is limited to the Crow Wing State Forest. to provide opportunities for public hunting, anglers can cast lines for tout, northern pike, Whether you are camping, hunting, riding, geocaching, skiing, or gathering berries, take care to FOR MORE INFORMATION 14 days. Winter camping is limited to 21 days trapping, and watching wildlife. bass, crappie, and sunfish. Most of Cuyuna’s Minnesota Department of Natural Resources leave the forest in good condition. mndnr.gov/watertrails/mississippiriver between the second Sunday in September and 5,000 acres are undeveloped. State Park [email protected] WMA HIGHLIGHT: MISSION LAKE • Forest lands are open at all times unless otherwise posted closed. the first Saturday in May. No fee. CUYUNA LAKES STATE TRAIL vehicle permits are required. 651-296-6157 | 888-646-6367 This WMA was established in 1976 to protect Located just outside and south of the state • Camping is available in the TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) • Summer camping on state forest land is limited to 14 days. Winter camping is limited to 21 days wetland habitats. All access to this WMA is by PELICAN BEACH DAY-USE AREA forest, this popular trail winds through Portsmouth Campground (31 sites) or 651-296-5484 | 800-657-3929 between the second Sunday in September and the first Saturday in May. foot or non-motorized traffic only. Users can This popular day-use area has an excellent dramatic former mining areas and large yurts. No dispersed camping. • Pack out what you pack in. Remove all personal property. Do not burn litter or garbage. sugar sand beach with parking, restrooms, and lakes. With 8 miles of paved and 28 miles of park in the lot on County Road 19. DNR TIP LINE (Turn in Poachers) • Bicyclers, hikers, and in-line skaters • Don’t leave equipment unattended for more than 24 hours. changing facilities. Located on the southeast mountain bike trails, bicyclists can explore WMA maps: mndnr.gov/maps/compass 800-652-9093 can explore 8 miles of the paved shore of Pelican Lake. No fees. easy to difficult hills and overlooks. A State • Building any permanent structures, including deer stands, is prohibited. WMA information: mndnr.gov/wmas Cuyuna Lakes State Trail. EMERGENCY SERVICE - DIAL 911 Park vehicle pass is needed to drive into the • Use firewood purchased from vendors who harvested firewood in the same county as the state CROSS LAKE RECREATION AREA – Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. No • Fat bikers can use 40 miles of CROW WING COUNTY SHERIFF forest or harvested in Minnesota and certified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture or U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS bike passes needed. STATE GAME REFUGES groomed trails. 218-829-4749 USDA. Bring your receipt. You may also collect dead fuelwood on site. Kiln-dried, unstained, Located on the eastern shore of Cross Lake mndnr.gov/state_trails/cuyuna_lakes State game refuges allow archery hunting • Mountain bikers can use 30 miles of unpainted dimensional lumber free from metal or other foreign objects is also permitted. It at the mouth of the Pine River, this recreation and trapping. Firearms are not permitted.